Shared learning for community based maternity care.

In order to ensure the best quality of maternity care midwives and doctors must work closely together but unfortunately the necessary interdisciplinary cooperation and respect has not always been present. This paper suggests that the benefits claimed for interprofessional education, which remain largely untested in maternity care, are being put forward as a panacea for earlier difficulties. It outlines some of the initiatives currently taking place. Material ripe for shared learning is identified and it is suggested that shared teaching in addition to shared learning for midwifery and medical students and for midwives and doctors should be the norm. Learners may then eventually provide shared care based on both their shared learning experiences and also on the role model of shared teaching. Such a major change would require considerable political will, including a shift in funding. There is some evidence that the necessary political will is developing and this may be given more emphasis by the need for teaching to follow care as the NHS becomes more primary-care led.